Bayern Munich are riding a wave of historic achievement and genuine concern in equal measure. Harry Kane became the first Bayern player since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981 to win the Ballon d'Or, beating Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal at a ceremony in London on Monday night. The award caps a remarkable season in which Kane scored 73 goals in 65 appearances, delivering a first domestic Double in six years. It is a moment that carries real weight for the club beyond the individual honour, with sporting director Max Eberl describing Kane as a "Gewinn" for Bayern and the award seen as a powerful argument in ongoing contract talks with Michael Olise.

The backdrop to all of this, however, is the continued absence of head coach Vincent Kompany, who collapsed during training last Friday and was hospitalised. Co-coach Aaron Danks took charge for the weekend trip to Freiburg and guided a heavily depleted squad to a 3-1 win, with Dayot Upamecano outstanding and Michael Olise sealing the result in stoppage time. Eberl confirmed Kompany's recovery will be measured in weeks, not days, and that the club will not rush him back.

With Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, Luis Diaz and Aleksandar Pavlovic all sidelined, the squad is stretched. Despite that, Bayern lead the Bundesliga on 17 points after seven games, level with Borussia Dortmund on points but ahead on goal difference. Danks takes charge again for Wednesday's DFB-Pokal tie against Magdeburg before the Klassiker against Dortmund on Saturday.